Assembly Recalled Over Housing Claims

The Northern Ireland Assembly is to be recalled later today as MLAs seek to get to the bottom of allegations of 'political interference' in the running of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

The move follows a BBC Spotlight programme, broadcast last week, in which DUP councillor and NIHE board member Jenny Palmer complained she had been pressurised into changing her vote at a meeting.

The meeting was held in July 2011 over the Housing Executive's contract with the Red Sky maintenance company.

The £8m-a-year contract had been cancelled earlier in the year following allegations the firm had been overcharged for its work on NIHE properties.

A vote was taken on Housing Minister Nelson McCausland's decision to reappoint Red Sky.

Ms Palmer told the BBC she had intended to vote against the move, but was told by Mr McCausland's adviser Stephen Brimstone that "the party comes first".

The Housing Minister denies all allegations of political interference and the DUP says it will pursue legal action against the BBC for making what it claims are false allegations.

A Department for Social Development Committee, headed by Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey, was to launch an enquiry into the allegations, but the DUP, Mr McCausland's party, submitted a petition of concern to block it.

Sinn Féin's Caitríona Ruane said: "The use by the DUP of the petition of concern on Monday is completely inappropriate and begs the question what are they trying to hide?

"This petition of concern is completely meaningless and ineffective as the PSNI will still have to investigate the allegations and the statutory inquiry by the Social Development Committee will go ahead regardless.

"The DUP would be better facing up to the issues raised by the Spotlight programme than trying to block the truth."

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Chief Whip Robin Swann remarked: "The decision of the DUP to table a Petition of Concern against Monday's motion is a desperate act from the DUP leadership to stifle accountability and stinks of protectionism where Party must always come first, irrespective of the carnage that causes to public confidence in the politics of Stormont.

"Abuse of the Petition of Concern mechanism will only further undermine the public perception of this administration. The whole purpose of an Assembly recall was to restore public confidence in the accountability and reputation of politics in Stormont.

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan added: "The DUP are putting two fingers up not only to the other parties in Stormont but to the N.I public who want and deserve to know the truth. This is why I worked with colleagues across other parties to recall the Assembly and move a motion seeking an inquiry.

"Yesterday, Minister McCausland welcomed any further investigation telling the DSD Committee that he had nothing to hide. Today, however the DUP have blocked it. Maybe they have been advised, like party colleague Councillor Palmer says she was, that ‘The Party must come first.’

"While the DUP will cleverly abuse the system to sidestep accusations of political corruption, I hope there is a full and thorough Police Investigation into the allegations."

(IT/CD)